Technical Advisor

Role Overview

This senior consultancy will advise government partners on strengthening social protection and child protection systems in Kenya, with a focus on improving outcomes for children facing poverty, violence, displacement and other forms of vulnerability. The consultant will help turn policy priorities into practical programmes, guidance and referral arrangements, including support for implementation of the Children Act 2022 and stronger connections between cash transfers and child protection services.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise on the expansion and institutionalisation of social protection programmes that account for children’s specific needs.
• Support improvements to adaptive social protection so programmes can respond to drought, floods, displacement and economic shocks affecting children and families.
• Help embed analysis of child poverty and vulnerability in social protection policy, programme design and delivery.
• Provide technical support to the State Department for Children Services on implementing the Children Act 2022, including the development and rollout of regulations, standards, guidelines and operating procedures.
• Strengthen referral pathways and coordination between cash transfer programmes and child protection services.
• Promote joined-up responses to child poverty, violence, neglect, family separation and harmful practices.
• Coordinate policy analysis, evidence generation and engagement with government, development partners and other stakeholders, translating findings into practical recommendations.
• Support capacity development, programme coordination and, where relevant, financing and investment advocacy for child-focused social sectors.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Policy, Public Finance, Public Policy, Economics, Development Studies, Public Administration, Child Protection, Development Economics or a related field.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in child-sensitive social protection, child protection, social or public policy, public finance, development economics, poverty and vulnerability analysis, public administration or a related area.
• Experience providing strategic technical advice to government institutions and supporting government-led policy, systems-strengthening or reform initiatives.
• Experience in the design, delivery, coordination or evaluation of social protection and/or child protection programmes.
• Experience working with national and subnational government, development partners, UN agencies or other international organisations.
• Strong capabilities in policy analysis, programme coordination, stakeholder engagement, advocacy and strategic advisory work.
• Sound knowledge of child-sensitive social protection and child protection systems, child poverty and vulnerability, and social inclusion.
• Knowledge of Kenya’s child protection laws, policies and institutions, including the Children Act 2022, or relevant expertise in care reform and violence prevention.
• Understanding of social protection policy, programme design and delivery, as well as policy development, legislative processes and institutional reform.
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills, with the ability to present evidence as actionable recommendations.
• Ability to engage effectively with senior officials, development partners and other stakeholders; experience in facilitation, coordination and capacity development.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Kiswahili is desirable.
• Experience with Government of Kenya ministries, departments and agencies; programmes serving vulnerable children and adolescents; inter-sectoral child protection coordination; UNICEF or child-rights-based programming; public finance and investment advocacy for children; or adolescent-focused cash-plus initiatives is an advantage.
• Experience in sustainable financing, resource mobilisation, budgeting or investment advocacy for social sectors is also an asset.